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. 2022 Nov-Dec;29(7-8):1562-1577.
doi: 10.1177/09697330221074014. Epub 2022 May 27.

CURA: A clinical ethics support instrument for caregivers in palliative care

Suzanne Metselaar  1 , Malene van Schaik  1 , Guy Widdershoven  1 , H Roeline Pasman  2
Affiliations

CURA: A clinical ethics support instrument for caregivers in palliative care

Suzanne Metselaar et al. Nurs Ethics. 2022 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

This article presents an ethics support instrument for healthcare professionals called CURA. It is designed with a focus on and together with nurses and nurse assistants in palliative care. First, we shortly go into the background and the development study of the instrument. Next, we describe the four steps CURA prescribes for ethical reflection: (1) Concentrate, (2) Unrush, (3) Reflect, and (4) Act. In order to demonstrate how CURA can structure a moral reflection among caregivers, we discuss how a case was discussed with CURA at a psychogeriatric ward of an elderly care home. Furthermore, we go into some considerations regarding the use of the instrument in clinical practice. Finally, we focus on the need for further research on the effectiveness and implementation of CURA.

Keywords: clinical ethics support; moral competences; moral resilience; new interventions; palliative care.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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